St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-16
Ben Browns Crime.

Nashville, Tenn, April 15.-Ben
Brown was hanged at 11:17 this morning
for the murder of Frank Arnold. He died
protesting his innocence. The murder of
Frank Arnold was one of the most deliber-
ate, cold-blOOded affairs that has ever been
cOncOcted and carried out in this state
About six miles from the city and mile
past Bellemead lived quiet old colored
farmer named Frank Arnold. Just over
the hill OH the north side lived Ben Brown,
who was renter. Arnold owned his lit
tie cabin, which contained one room. and
lived alone with boy named Noshey Lane.
whom he had adopted. Stretching back
from his cabin were four acres OF land. The
Uhoie pia~e WAS hardly worth $500. Not
far. off>.Ma living the Joslns and Simon
Fox, who was their half brother. These
were children of a woman with whom
Frank Arnold
HAD HAD A LAW SUIT.
She lived with her brother and after his
death retained the farm. Frank Arnold
tried to dspossess her, but it was found that
she had life interest in the place and he
lost his suit. All these men were wont to
associate together and at some time early in
November. 1885, they had their plot well
W.
Went over the hill to old man Arnold's house
and called him out and asked him to go
hunting with them. He consented and got
his gun. Noshey Lane was in the house
and the old man told him to have the sweet
potatoes then in the ashes roasted nicely
against his return. The boy stayed by the
fire all night. but Frank did not return and
was never again seen alive. Jan. IS, 1886,
Eugene Holt was going to his work when
in the tan bark to the side of Be'leville,
about 100 yards north of Cunningham's tam
merry, he made discovery. This was an
arm protruding from the bark. Seven
pieces of the body were dug up, but no head
found. Ben Brown had brother Bill, an
eX-convict. He was suspected and the
Browns. Nelson Joslin, foster .Joslin.
Simon Fox and Robert Maclin were arrested.
Bill Brown turned states evidence and told
the following
STORY OF THE CRIME:
On Monday night Ben Brown, Mel son
Foster, Joslin and Simon Fox were over
close to old man Frank Arnold's home, and
Ben went in, shortly afterward returning
with the old man and his dog They all
went down the lane and across the railroad
track. Uncle Frank was walking between
Ben and Foster JOSln. When they reached
the thicket Simon Fox, who was walking
in front carrying gun. fired it at Uncle
Frank, but he did not fall; only turned
round. and as he did so Ben hit him on the
head with an iron bar and after short
struggle Frank fell to the ground, having
been stabbed by one of the others. The
witness who claims he was hired to watch
and receive two buckets full of meal and a
peck Of turnips for his services. continuing
the story told how the old mans body was
picked up and carried down into the pas
ture where grave was dug. Before being
lowered into the hole the old man groaned,
when Ben struch him another blow on the
head with the iron. The following night
the body was removed to the stable, decap-
itated, dismembered, loaded up in the
wagon and brought to the city and buried
in the tanbark, where it was afterward dis
covered. Simon Fox died this week in the
penitentiary where Machlin now is. The
Others are i'll jail awaiting trial.